“I just picked up a Bengal kitten for $200… there ARE breeders out there who don’t just care about making money!”
At first glance, this statement seems to make some sense. If one kitten costs $200 and another kitten costs $2,000, clearly the breeder charging $2,000 is just about making money, right? After all, they’re both kittens… how different can they really be?
We’re here to give you a little inside perspective.
Think about how much one small cage costs. $60? Now think about how much an expansive outdoor enclosure with a temperature-controlled shed costs. $6,000, on the very low end.
Some (irresponsible) breeders actually keep their Bengals in those small $60 cages. Other breeders keep their cats in very spacious environments—these breeders can have a cat housing expense over 100 times that of the first breeder.
Now, if the second breeder charged 100 times what the first breeder charges for a kitten ($200), the second breeder would have to sell each kitten for $20,000!
With this new perspective, which breeder do you think cares more about money? And who actually cares about the wellbeing of their Bengals?
We realize that this single example is an oversimplification. In reality, there are other expenses every breeder has that aren’t so dramatically different. But in breeding, there are literally hundreds of decisions to make that can add up to a significant amount of money. Do I feed my cats a more expensive, complete diet, or buy the cheapest food from the pet store? Do I use a reputable vet, or try to cut corners and skip health checkups? Do I buy a high quality cat exercise wheel or skip that purchase altogether? What about all the toys kittens need for play?
Next time you see a high price for a Bengal kitten and you think the breeder is trying to rip you off… consider what that price could mean. It may mean there’s a responsible breeder behind that cost, doing everything they can to ethically and responsibly raise Bengal cats!
To gain a full understanding of pricing, read Bengal Cat Price: A Complete Guide.
